History of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church |
Source: 100th Year of Most Holy Trinity Parish
The early history of Most Holy Trinity Parish of Fowler dates back to the year 1857. Catholics in the Fowler area were served by Rev. George Godez, pastor at St. Mary's Westhphalia. Father Godez was the well-known missionary priest who visited the Catholics of Fowler on horseback at regular intervals of four months. As the Westphalia parish was growing in numbers and Father Godez was aging, he was obliged to give up his missionary tours. Consequently the Catholics of Fowler were left without spiritual guidance until Rev. Peter DeSmedt of Hubbardston agreed to come several times during the year to hear their confessions and to offer Mass.
In the year 1878, three-hundred square feet of land was donated by John N. and Elizabeth Fowler with certain provisions stipulated in the deed. It was stated that a church of modern style and architecture; size 35 feet by 65 feet with spire and two coats of paint, be built within three years or the property was to revert back to the donor.
On the 12th day of May, 1881, Henry J. Goerge of Fowler, Michigan, was hired to erect a church complete with plaster work and painting. The building was to be finished by November 1, 1881. On November 9, 1881, a meeting was held to raise money to put pews in the church.
The Fowler church being built of wood or frame work, was blessed accordingly on December 27, 1881. The building of the Catholic Church commenced in 1881, on the 6th day of June, the week before Trinity Sunday, and was finished on the 3rd day of December of that same year.
Some difficulty arose with regard to the name to be given to the church. The Irish members of the new parish desired a patron saint of their own nationality, while the Germans contended for their national saint. Fr. Ronayne, the temporary pastor, ended the difficulty satisfactorily to both parties by dedicating the church to the Most Holy Trinity, its yearly titular feast being fixed accordingly for the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. The statues on the main altar today are of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland and St. Boniface, Apostle of Germany, as a memorial to our Irish and German parishioners.
The early history of Most Holy Trinity Parish of Fowler dates back to the year 1857. Catholics in the Fowler area were served by Rev. George Godez, pastor at St. Mary's Westhphalia. Father Godez was the well-known missionary priest who visited the Catholics of Fowler on horseback at regular intervals of four months. As the Westphalia parish was growing in numbers and Father Godez was aging, he was obliged to give up his missionary tours. Consequently the Catholics of Fowler were left without spiritual guidance until Rev. Peter DeSmedt of Hubbardston agreed to come several times during the year to hear their confessions and to offer Mass.
In the year 1878, three-hundred square feet of land was donated by John N. and Elizabeth Fowler with certain provisions stipulated in the deed. It was stated that a church of modern style and architecture; size 35 feet by 65 feet with spire and two coats of paint, be built within three years or the property was to revert back to the donor.
On the 12th day of May, 1881, Henry J. Goerge of Fowler, Michigan, was hired to erect a church complete with plaster work and painting. The building was to be finished by November 1, 1881. On November 9, 1881, a meeting was held to raise money to put pews in the church.
The Fowler church being built of wood or frame work, was blessed accordingly on December 27, 1881. The building of the Catholic Church commenced in 1881, on the 6th day of June, the week before Trinity Sunday, and was finished on the 3rd day of December of that same year.
Some difficulty arose with regard to the name to be given to the church. The Irish members of the new parish desired a patron saint of their own nationality, while the Germans contended for their national saint. Fr. Ronayne, the temporary pastor, ended the difficulty satisfactorily to both parties by dedicating the church to the Most Holy Trinity, its yearly titular feast being fixed accordingly for the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. The statues on the main altar today are of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland and St. Boniface, Apostle of Germany, as a memorial to our Irish and German parishioners.
